Chain-type socket



May 22,1934. H T. PAISTE 1,960,188

CHAIN TYPE SOCKET Filed Oct. 27, 1928 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE CHAIN-TYPE sooKET Application October 27, 1928, Serial No. 315,532 4 claims. (C1. iisg-354) This invention relates to an improved form of chain-type socket, and is especially concerned with a new manner of mounting the stationary contacts thereof.

In the type of socket now in conventional use, the stationary contacts are mounted directly on inclined ledges formed on the porcelain base thereof. However, this method of mounting is objectionable as the cast porcelains are not perfeet and are liable to crack.

An object of the invention is to avoid the above mentioned difliculties.

Another object is to provide a seat for the stationary contacts of `a socket, which is detachable with respect to the porcelain base.

Another object is to provide a seat for the stationary contacts of a socket which is detachable with respect to the base, and which is comprised of non-irangble, insulating material.

Another object is to provide a seat for the stationary contacts of a socket which is detachable with respect to the base, and which may be employed in connection with the conventional housing, insulating sheathing, and shell.

Yet another object is to produce a pull switch having a porcelain base and a fibre disk shaped to form a xed ratchet.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawing, which illustrates my invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a socket employing my invention and taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing a porcelain base with the switch member operatively associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the non-frangible support which I provide for the stationary switch contacts. This support is shown associated with contacts;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of the various elements of Fig. 4, while Figs. 8 and 9 are a perspective view and a transverse section, respectively, of another form of a ratchet disk shown in detail in Figure 5.

As shown in Fig. 1, the socket comprises the usual housing 1, lined with insulating sheathing 2, screw shell contact 3, and housing cap 4. Mounted within the sheathing 2 and above'the shell 3 is a base 5 of porcelain or other suitable material. This base is preferably recessed for the reception of switch mechanism 6 of the conventional ratchet type and which has movable contacts 7 and 8, which cooperate with stationary contacts to be described hereinafter.

The apparatus for retaining the stationary contacts in accordance with my invention is broadly indicated at 9 in Fig. L1, and preferably comprises a plurality of cooperating disks l0, l1, and 12. The disk 10 is made of a non-conducting ibrous or like material and has a plurality of concentric arcuate openings 13 arranged therein for the reception of both the stationary and the movable contacts.

The provision of the concentric openings 13 in the disc 10 makes it possible for the movable contacts and the disc to cooperate like a pawl and ratchet, the ratchet, however, being stationary and the pawl or contacts being movable.

One of the stationary contacts is shown `at 14 in Fig. 5 as being formed as a continuation of a wire terminal .15. The terminal 15 is preferably seated in a peripheral recess 16 of the disk 10, and has a iinger portion 14 extending partially across the lower face of the disc and then upwardly through one of the openings 13 of the disk 10. For the reception of the spindle 18 of the switch mechanism 6 and to insure proper centering of the mechanism, the disc 10 is provided with a central opening 17 located centrally of the openings 13.

Immediately underneath and adjacent to the disk 10 is a centrally apertured washer 11, of insulating material. As shown, the washer has a plurality of equally spaced recessed portions 19, 20, and 21 cut out of the periphery of the discs central aperture. The recess 21 is provided for the reception of the contact member 22 carried by the disk 12, while the recesses 19 and 20 are provided for the reception of terminal 15, at least one of the recesses being in operable position for the reception of the terminal, regardless of which face of the disk 11 is uppermost. The disk 11 is further provided with radially extending notches 23 and 24 out in the discs periphery, at least one of which is in operable position to cooperate with the base member 5 to retain a conventional funnel-shaped pull chain eye 25. The eye 25 guides the pull-chain 26 which may be attached by any suitable means to the actuating lever 2'7 of the switch mechanism 6.

The insulating disk 12 which lies beneath and against the disc 11 may be provided with an aperture or slot 28 for the reception of a contact member 22. The member 22 in the present form comprises a folded strip of metal, the ends of which extend across the upper and lower face of the disk 12 though it may have any con- Gili.

ventional shape without departing from the essential features of the invention. The portion 29 extending across the upper face of the disc forms one of the stationary contacts of the switch mechanism, while the portion 30 extending across the lower face of the disk forms the central contact of.. the socket..

The disks 10, 11', and 12" are centered with respect to each other and secured to the porcelain base by suitable means, such as bolts, or. the like 31, 32, and 33, one of which, 32, may form the lead-in to the shell 3. Thei disksare;

each provided with a plurality of holes 34, 3.5,.

and 36 which align with each: other for the.` re"- ception of the bolts 31, 32, and. 33.

In operation, the disks are arranged in super.`

posed position as shown in Fig. 4, the stationary contacts 14 and 29 protrudingl upwardly. through diametrically opposed openings 13. By actuation of the switch lever 27, the switch mechanism may be. rotated, carrying ther contactsv 7.' and 8 upon the stationary contacts 1.4iA and 29..

Further actuation of the switch mechanism causes a further rotation of the contacts 7 and 8 in the same direction-the contacts 7 and8 thus riding up and offv the contacts 14' and 29, and engaging with the other pair oi?v diametrically opposed openings 13.

switch mechanism, whichV will functionproperly regardless of warping, cracking' or chippingv ofand 39 are closed' at their lowermost ends, and:

are adapted to receive the rotatable contact ele-- ments, while recesses 40and 41v are pierced as at;

42. and 43 for the reception of the stationary contact elements.

It is of course, understood that the invention. is susceptible to numerous modications andi adaptations, and it is intended thatV it be. limited'Iv only by the scope of'. the appended claims.

In thismanner, a. seat.. is provided for the. stationary contactsV of the I claim:

l. An element of a detachable means for the reception of the stationary contacts of the switch mechanism of a socket, comprising a plate of non-frangible insulating material having a circular opening inthe center thereof` for a switch spindle, a. plurality of radially extending arcuate slots extending therearound in the shape of a circle, and a peripheral recess for the reception of, a terminal member.

21 An element of a detachable means for the reception of the stationary contacts of the switch mechanism of asocket comprising a disk of nonfrangible" insulating material having a central opening therein, a. plurality of recesses oiset from` said opening for the reception of the stationary parts of the switch mechanism, and a plurality`A of radially.: extending circumferential slots for the reception of the guide eye of the socket, said recesses and said slots permitting the reception. of the stationary parts and guide eye, respectively, regardless of whichface'of the disk is uppermost.

3. In an electric switch of the type adapted tot intot ar conventional. lamp socket casing, a switch base, switch mechanism including movable' and` stationary switch contacts, a plurality of:- members of. non-frangible sheet insulation cooperating to receive and. hold the stationary switch contacts between them, and meansholding said members xedly to said base, in such position that when said switch is inserted in a' socket casing said. non-frangible members` will lie in planes perpendicular to the axis of -the socket: casing.

4. In= an electric switch; a switch base, switch mechanism including. movable and stationary switch contacts, a. plurality of' members of. nonfrangible sheet insulation recessed and aperturedl toreceive-the stationary contactsbetween them and' to permitfthem-toextend therethrough, one of. said members being recessed to function as av ratchet. for-the movable contact member.

HENRY T. PAISTE. 

